damask
UK[ˈdæməsk]US[ˈdæməsk]
n
A rich, heavy silk or linen fabric with a pattern woven into it, typically with a glossy design on a matte background.
n
A fine, twilled table linen.
adj
Made of or resembling damask.
Etymology
The word 'damask' traces its luxurious lineage directly to the city of Damascus, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. It entered English in the 14th century via Medieval Latin 'damascus' and Old French 'damas', referring to the richly patterned silk fabric famously traded from that Syrian city. The semantic logic is quintessentially metonymic: the place name (Damascus) became the name for its most celebrated export. Over centuries, the term generalized to describe the specific weaving technique and the characteristic reversible pattern itself, eventually applying to linens and even a shade of rose, cementing its association with ornate craftsmanship and refined texture.
Analysis
The word is a loanword and is not productively formed from separable English morphemes. It is analyzed as a simplex.
Examples
The curtains were made of a deep red damask that shimmered in the sunlight.
She set the table with her best linen damask for the formal dinner.
The damask rose in the garden is prized for its intense fragrance and beautiful petals.